Drag-line excavator.



- H. J. BBNTSON.

DRAG LINE EXUAVATOR. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 2 1909.

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WITNESSES H. J. BENTSON. DRAG LINE EXOAVATOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1909.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

WTNESSES H. J. BENTSON. DRAG LINE EXGAVATOR. APPLICATION TILED JULY 28,1909.

Patented Aug. 13,1912.

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W/TNESSES K M FTTORNEYfi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS J'. BENTSO N, OF WINTHROP HARBORQILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK G.

AUSTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRAG-LINE EXCAVATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A1ig. 13,1912.

Application filed July 26, 1909. Serial No. 599,738.

To all whom it may concern:

.is provided with means citizen of the United States of America,

and resident of \Vinthrop Harbor, Lake county, Illinois, have invented a certamnew and usefulfImprovement in Drag-Line Excavators, of which the following is a specification. I

My inveiition relates to excavators of that type in which a bucket or scoop is operated by a drag line. In excavators of this kind, as heretofore constructed, the bucket has been free to swing sidewise, or to tip over sidewise, during its travel along the ground. The bucket was pulled forward by the drag line, but there was nothing to preventit from swaying from side to side and careening over to one side. Consequently, drag line excavators, as heretofore constructed, -were not'adapted for certain kinds of work. For example, they were not adapted for trenching. Also, and by reason of the fact ,that the bucket was free to swing sidewise, to some extent, its operation for ordinary purposeswas often not efficient or satisfactory. With my improved construction, however, the drag line bucket is guided in a straight line, and held firmly against side swing, so that it may be used for trenching.

Also, 1t is held against tipping sidewlse, and

level. It is provided with side cutters, whereby it may operate in a trench with su'flicient clearance" at each side thereof; And in addition the boom of the excavator for controlling the bucket to dump the load. Thus in an excavator characterized'by my invention the bucket isnot only capable of doing the work ordinarily assigned to a drag line excavator in a better and more efiicient manner," but is also capable of doing'work heretofore considered impossible, or at least impracticable, with a drag line excavator.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward portion "of a drag line excavator embodying the principles of, my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rear portion of the same excavator. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevationof the bucket in operative position. Fig: tis a similar view showing the bucket in dumping position. the drag line bucket showing the preceding Fig. 5 is a plan ot views. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line (3-6 in Fig. 1.

As thus illustrated, my invention comprises a body A supported on wheels a and provided at its forward end with a-turn tableor swinging circle B. Upon this revolving member B is which is provided with a drag line bucket D supported by a hoist-line E running over suitably mounted sheaves. The said bucket is operated by a drag-line F, and the boom C is raised and lowered by a rope or chain G having a connection with a frame H on the body. These ropes or cables are all operatcd by suitable means on the body, as, for example, the power operated drums I. Similar means may be; used for operating the turn table I to swing the bucket from one side to the other.

The bucket is guided or held to a straight line of travel by a pair of beams J which have their lower ends pivoted to the bucket at j, and which are arranged to slide in pivoted guides j on the boom. In this way the bucket must move forward ina straight line, when the drag-line is operated. Also, it cannot tip over sidewise. Hence it can be used for trenching, and the bottom of the trench will always be level. The bucket has side cutters d, whereby it cuts a trench wider than itself, insuring clearance at each side thereof. It has a lip or cutting edge d that digs up the load. W hen the bucket is raised, a wheel K strikes-the track (l on the bucket to upset the same and dump the load. (See Fig. 4). This wheel K is mounted at the lower end of an arm It: that has holes Zt for movin or adjusting the operative portion thereof on the boom. Then the wheel can be adjusted up and down to get the right dumping action. Thusmeans are provided on the boom for engaging the bucket to dump the loadthat is to say, a connection is provided between the boom and bucket to control it when raised. However, this may be done in various ways, if desired.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I provide novel improvements whereby a drag-line excavator is not only rendered more certain in operation for ordinary work, as the bucket 'is held in position to fill more readily, and kept moving in a straight-line, but also whereby certain other kindsof work are made possible with an excavator of this type.

I do not, therefore, limit myself to the exact construction shown and described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an excavator, a bucket, a drag-line therefor, a boom, guide beams for the bucket, to keep the bucket ,movingdn astraight line while filling, a pivotal connection between said bucket and beams, and a wheel on the boom for engaging the bucket to tilt thesame' about its said pivotal connection and thereby dump the load.

2. In an excavator, a bucket, a drag-line therefor, a .boom, guide beams for the bucket, which beams keep the bucket to a straight line of travel, a pivotal connection between said beams and bucket, and means on the boom for engaging the bucket to tilt the same about said pivotal connection and thereby dump the load.

3. In an excavator, a bucket, a drag-line therefor, means for operating the drag-line to cause the bucket to fill by movement thereof toward the excavator, a boom, guide beams for the bucket, to keep the bucket moving in a straight line While filling, a pivotal connection between said bucket and beams, and a wheel on the boom for engaging the bucket to tilt the same, about its said pivotal connection and thereby dump the load.-

4:. In an excavator a bucket, a drag-line therefor, means for operating the drag-line to cause'the bucket to fill by movement thereof toward the excavator,,a boom, guide beams for the bucket, a pivotal connection between said beams and bucket, and means on the boom for engaging the bucket to tilt the same about said pivotal connection and thereby dump the load.

Signed by me at Chicago, 111., this 2nd day'of July 1909.

HANS J. BENTsoN.

J ENNm NORBY,

E. H. CLEGG. 

